What things do I need to take with me on a ride as a bare minimum?
Going on a ride you need to be prepared. As a bare minimum you should have the tools need to sort a puncture. Most riders will carry a spare tube (often two) as they prefer to replace the tube at the roadside rather than trying to fix a puncture.
In order to replace the tube you’ll need some tyre levers and then something to inflate the tube. A hand pump or a CO2 inflator are good convenient options.
Depending on the length of ride you should also have some drink and food (gels, bars etc) with you to prevent you running out of energy. Also be prepared if you get held up and have to come back in the dark by having some lights. You may also like to carry some money with you in case of emergency plus a lightweight jacket that you can stow in your back pocket should the weather be unkind.
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